Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-05


1he clink, clink OF the blacksmith Is hammer rose
over the roar OF the river winter and summer Peo-
pe Te Ear .n ne tSe ng nns vail d
| ing down upon them like the twinkle OF an mac
cessiole star The inscrutable frown OF the ciins
! mating garb OF the seasons.
| The child developed like the unfolding OF q
double rose and Jim found the many quirks and
oddities OF the Juvenile mind never failing source
of wonder Though his understanding was Linz
ted his faith in the feminine capacity for surprise
| was unoounded. Little AIMS brisk, v1vaciouS
prattle and cunning unique ways became TO him
the most deliciously tncomprehensible mudde In
At ten years of age she had assumed such charge
OF his ungainiy person and simple habics that In
his own mind he hardly knew where his own ODE
dience began or her playfully preeocious authority
/ ended. There was such harmonious reversal OF
their mental relations towards each other that
"Ef that young un didn't shoe the HOSES and
pint the plows, hit weren't bekase she couldn't or
The vulgar associations connected with the still
House shrank from her approach, as the foul ex:
halations OF dungeon yield to the pure influx OF
came charter OF their evil influence feeling instinc
lively. the unsullied guardianship OF his child
In summer time when he went to the railroad
towns Or to the great hotel at White Cliff, with
| butter, eggs and garden truck, she always ac-
eompanied MN H. sultry day In August found
Having disposed Of their produce, Jim was talk
to some Runting grounds in the Tellico mountains,
when q waiter called him to one side and said that
| q lady guest of the hotel wished to see him.
"Whar's little Ann?" Quoth Jim, not seeing his
| child around.
''Shes with the lady, sab, said the waiter sLas'
door at the far end OF this long piazza. Bettah
hurry, sab. Lady powful anxsh1s to see YOU"
"WantS ter see me bad, does she?" muttcfed Jim,
sTaint often that these yer big folks gifts in that
way about Jim Cheek. hev erbeeged ter think
she'll find she's barkin' up the wrong tree, after
The door stood open. Jim cleared his throat,
pulled of his ragged hat and entered the room,
eyer be, mann. What kin do fer your
He paused, open mouthed; for, seated on sofa
in the richly furnished room, was fashionably
dressed lady with her arms around Ann-hiS little
Amin an attitude OF undiSguised emotion and
endearment, TO which the child submitted with
loose from the woman and ran to Jim, exclaiming !:
"Pap, Oh, Pap! She called me in, and she
says she knows we 'uns. She says she's my NAM
my; but jest know she amt, for amt got nary
The lady rose hurriedly. In her manner embar-
rassment and Wistiul eagerness strongly commended
Her dark, splendid, mature beauty ShOne out from
the quiet elegance OF her attire like ruby above
its golden setting. Jewels sparkled on her fingers
meath a hat that was trophy of the milliners
art, rich tresses OF wayy black hair escaped In
now the type OF the highest art.
Jim dropped his hat and stood the embodiment
OF awkward stupefaction, with little Ann clinging
to his legs and looking round at the strange lady,
who quickly recovering herself, passed behind
them and closed the door. jim picked I'D his hat
Then the lady placed one hand on Jms ragged
shoulder, as he rubbed his head helplessly. and
gazed upon his Weather-beaten features long and
earnestly.
"Jim."
Her voice had the clear, wonderful ring, as of
Old, to which was added that perfection OF accent
Which social polish gives
"Jim Cheek, do you know me?"
With great effort Jim again brought his eyes
to bear upon this vision OF beauty. AS compre-
hension began to dawn upon his slow moving in
tellect, his gaze grew steadier, but there was no
answering tenderness, or eager acknowledgement
fOreShadOwed therein.
''Don't you remember me, Jim ChGek?n
"Wai, reckon do now. You air the women es
runn'd off with Dick BuflOrd.n
She covered Tor an instant, and removed her
hand from his shoulder. He mechanically brushed
the spot, while his face gradually hardened. The
splendor OF her appearance was that OF too differ
ent world from his own to enthrall him now.
"He is dead" she murmured; then, clasping her
hands, She exclaimed passionatey, "Oh Jim,
want my child, my only child?"
''YoIr child? Wal. reckon you don't mean
thiSh yer little GAL for eff you do yOuair labortn'
under OF a small mistake. She amt your child
now, whatever she mout hev been onct."
Little Ann, having possessed herself of one OF
JilnS hands, looked from to the other in child
ish bewilderment. She was barefooted yet neatly
clad in striped linsey, with long, tumbled hair
falling upon her shoulders. The lady rs face flushed
then grew slowly pale as she realized that all her
beauty and luxury made no impression upon the
"Jim, she again began, 81 don't defend myself.
1 deceived and Wronged you most Of all But uiq
didn't know myself; couldn't help doing as did.
He-made me do it. He ruled me. But, oh! how
his wealth-for we went to Colorado, and he made
money there-I became wretched. Ny heart went
back to my child-ny only child"
Il knOw'd-after what happened-I know'd in
reason We cOulnt hav keered much for me- I
all'awyr wondered how We come to keer fur me at
all, for amt much to keer fur nOhOw. But little
Ann-She'S de rer'nt Of course"
Jim allowed his fingers to close over the childs
small hands, fondly, then he resumed:
RntJ,r
fearin' she CANT under the pecOolyer sarcum-
stances partiklerly keer fur both On us, to onct
Here Jim straitened himself and looked full at
mas former wife unfinchfngly. Could she now
standing before him clad as 1t were In purple and
fine linen, with delicate perfume exhaling from
her presence over his unaccuStOmed SenSeS-cOuld
she be-his faithless Darthuly? He knew it must
be SO, yet the realization seemed tmpersonal and
vague.
"At first didn't care much for you," she said.
~ wanted shelter and home so badly. My life
had been hard one. But your love and kindness
r i to6 well But come
her self impelled confession, che had met and
deceived me before you knew me. / cannot eX-
plain, but somehow could not resist his power.
But have repented, indeed have repented!"
Sne hid her face in her hands, while little Ann
shrank from the vehemence Of the strange ladys
actions and words. Jim's eyes wandered from her
dress and jewelry to the big Saratoga trunks
against the wall, and around the luxurious an
pOintlnentS OF the room.
all yer fine dreSsin' and ways and sech, come OF
DICK BufOrdS money what he left ye?"
She appeared not TO hear him, but, as he repeated
the question, her hands fell and q look OF cOnfu-
sion appeared on her face
"PeOple are obliged to have money in this world.
she replied almost doggedly.
"We'unS yer In the mountains gifts along on DOW
erful leetle, said he. "But air We usein' OF his
money nOw?"
"Yes. Jim, am. he has gone where he'll never
need money again"
SIT he amt In hill he ought ter be-" interrupted
he emphatically. "And was you q gOin ter
tempt me and Ann with some OF the cussed stun,
tOO?"
Facing him there, she felt that all the power
and pleasure her wealth had invoked to appeaSe
the deep lOng1ngS OF her heart towards her hus-
Dand and child were rising as curse to still fur
ther separate her from her desire. Had she not
dreamed fOndly Of how this money would relieve
their wants. expand and minister to their crude
enjoyment? Had she not planned how-in new
land unhaunted by the paSt.-thiS same money
should gid the path OF forgiveness and fOrgetful-
ness with ease and pleasure, until conscience
slumbered, love renewed itself, and retribution
was forgotten?
Yet here was Jim-pOor, simple, honest Jim-re-
10 bridge the chaSm OF shame, yawning between
their honorable poverty and her own repugnant
splendOr. There Is nothing SO inaccessible as yir
tue under certain contingencies ClOthe IT, in
rags pinch 1t with penury, grind In beneath a
worldly ScOrn, yet Its hollow eyes and wasted
features 1llumtne the vale OF humility like
diamonds In the mire, cleaning unsullied from out
the NTH OF their surroundings upon the spurious
glitter that envyS through all its false exataton
the purity no tongue can smirch and from which;
1t stands forever barred.
She did not reply at once Jim Totally uporod